‘WE REALLY WANTED TO GET THAT WIN,’ SAYS GALCHENYUK
Canadiens forward pockets power-play overtime winners in back-to-back games
Alex Galchenyuk couldn’t win a faceoff and he managed only one shot on goal, but it couldn’t have come at a better time.
For the second time in as many nights, Galchenyuk scored a power-play goal in overtime as the Canadiens edged the Columbus Blue Jackets 1-0 Tuesday night at the Bell Centre. Galchenyuk also scored the overtime winner in New Jersey Monday night and has goals in each of the past three games.
“It’s not like we really practise it that much,” Galchenyuk said of the 4-on-3 power play. “But we obviously practise the power play and we know the plays. Obviously, the first option was to set up (Shea Weber), but teams keep taking him away the last two games, which opened up a lot of space for the three of us so it’s a big advantage.”
“It was a high-paced, really tight game. It was like the playoffs,” added Galchenyuk, who won only one of his 11 faceoffs.
“The crowd was buzzing and we really wanted to get that win on home ice and we’re happy we did. It was a 0-0 game, both teams couldn’t find a way. Both goalies played outstanding. When both teams have such great goaltenders, games like that happen. But we’re happy we ended up getting the only goal.”
This game might have been over a few minutes earlier, but Max Pacioretty was deprived of his 32nd goal. He appeared to beat Sergei Bobrovsky at 1:11 of the overtime, but the goal was waved off on the ice because the referee said he thought the puck was in the goaltender’s glove.
“They said they saw the goalie cover the puck, and it’s hard to see when it doesn’t happen,” said Pacioretty, who had a gamehigh eight shots on goal.
The official explanation from the NHL was that the play was dead before the puck crossed the goal line and the call on the ice was not reviewable, which doesn’t explain why it took several minutes to render a decision.
It was the third-consecutive win for the Canadiens as they re-established a six-point lead atop the Atlantic Division. The Canadiens went the entire month of February without a win in regulation time — they had a 5-7-1 record — but they finish the month with four overtime or shootout wins in their last five games.
“There is confidence and belief,” coach Claude Julien said. “As much we’d like to win games 4-1 and 5-2, we’re learning to play in tight games. This was big, playing two in two against a fresh team.”
Pacioretty said he had mixed feelings after the game because his longtime friend and linemate David Desharnais was traded to Edmonton for defenceman Brandon Davidson.
“I know Davey’s a great player and I know he’s going to get a shot to show what he can do,” said Pacioretty. “I’ve always believed in Davey and he’s always proved people wrong and maybe a fresh start is what he needs.”
Pacioretty noted that he struggled in his first two years in the minors and that Desharnais played a key role in his development as a scorer.
While Desharnais exited stage right, Jordie Benn made his Canadiens’ debut.
He played 15 solid minutes as Nathan Beaulieu’s partner. He had three hits and five blocked shots and helped the penaltykill.
“Jordie talks a lot on the ice,” said Julien. “Communication is such a big thing. We go back to our day when we talked a lot. That makes his partner’s job a lot easier and Beaulieu will benefit from that.”
And those blocked shots impressed Carey Price, who made 26 saves for his third shutout of the season. Price has allowed only eight goals in five games since Julien replaced Michel Therrien.
Julien gave his team a day off Wednesday, although he’ll be in Brossard where he’ll keep one eye on the tape of the Columbus game and one eye on the activity at the trading deadline.
As much we’d like to win games 4-1 and 5-2, we’re learning to play in tight games.